Question about Patents

Remember that except for bragging rights a patent is worth nothing unless you can afford the big bucks to defend it. There are no "patent police", it's up to you to bring a civil suit if you think it's being infringed on. I feel like outside of biotech and some materials science, patents are one of the most useless things aspiring entrepreneurs waste their time and money on, and taking a patent case to court is just a massive cost and distraction for a startup I can't think anyone but a lawyer would recommend.

Another way to view your inquiry...would be...to imagine Rubber on shoe Soles. -- Do you see Rubber only on one exclusive shoe brand?
No, you don't...Rubber exists virtually on every shoe brand.

Kind of like Chocolate Chip cookies. (when they were initially created/invented) -- you can't Patent that creative idea.
Alot of people, and companies, are allowed to make and sell chocolate chip cookies.

When you think of Patents...think of Scientists and Inventors...inventing. something new and Useful/profitable. that's currently exclusive and requires ingenuity, `

But more importantly, it's 2018...High-Five`

More...

Hey Lugar...
You don't know wtf you're talking about.
I saw a re-run of a Shark Tank last night I hadn't seen before with the guy that invented "Scotty-Vest".

He has a "design" and a "utility" patent on those things. Plastic pockets with holes in them so you can run wires for headphones. Where the f is the process in that?